Ernest Mills
Encyclopedia
Ernest Victor Mills, Ernie Mills, (10 April 1913 – 1972) was an English amateur cyclist who, with his team-mate 'Bill' Paul
, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem
in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63 years until September 2000. The Addiscombe
Cycle Club team-mates set 20 world and British records at both short and long distances.
Mills represented Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin
and won a bronze medal in the Team Pursuit
. At the 1938 British Empire Games
in Sydney
Australia, he won a bronze medal in the 1,000 metre Time-Trial
In 1937 Cycling Weekly
jointly awarded him and Bill Paul their own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
.
, ('stoker
') (1910 - 29 January 2003) also from the Addiscombe Cycle Club in Croydon. Initially they had been on opposing tandem teams but together they covered over 30 miles in one hour in 1936 and won a 10 minute pursuit race in less than four minutes.
Together they set the British 12-hour tandem record in 1934, and, after losing it in 1936 to both G.A.Birtchnell and C.G.Taylor, and later C.C.Melhuish and H.G.Chapman, Mills and Paul then retook the record in September 1936 with a 'world's best performance'.
In 1936 Mills and Paul set a British record for a 30 mile ride on a tandem, covering the distance in 1 hour 5 minutes 3 seconds.
He represented Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin
, and won a bronze medal in the Team Pursuit
along with his colleagues Harry Hill
, Ernest Johnson and Charles King
.
In 1937 Mills and Paul set the 'World Tandem Hour Record', 31.06 miles (49.991 km), at the Velodromo Vigorelli
(Velodromo Comunale Vigorelli) track in Milan
owned by 'Vigorelli Cycles'. The trip had been funded by readers of Cycling
magazine. This record stood until Sept 23rd 2000 at Manchester Velodrome when it was beaten by Simon Keeton and Jon Rickard of Rutland Cycling Club.
Mills represented England at the 1938 British Empire Games
in Sydney
Australia, where he won a bronze medal in the 1,000 metre Time-Trial behind the Australians Bob Porter and Tasman Johnson. He finished fourth in the road race and also competed in 10 miles scratch event.
As of 2011 Mills and Paul's 1938 100-mile tandem record at Addiscombe Cycle Club of still stands.
awarded them their own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
.
issued a Cigarette card
of them on their tandem. In a series of 50 cards called Cycling 1839-1939, they were featured on card no.45 titled Tandem track position.
Bill Paul (cyclist)
William George Paul, was an English amateur cyclist who, with his team-mate 'Ernie' Mills, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63 years...
, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63 years until September 2000. The Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
Cycle Club team-mates set 20 world and British records at both short and long distances.
Mills represented Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and won a bronze medal in the Team Pursuit
Cycling at the 1936 Summer Olympics
The cycling competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics consisted of two road cycling events and four track cycling events, all for men only.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
. At the 1938 British Empire Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia, he won a bronze medal in the 1,000 metre Time-Trial
In 1937 Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
jointly awarded him and Bill Paul their own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
.
Career
In 1934 Mills was paired with his team-mate, William George (Bill) PaulBill Paul (cyclist)
William George Paul, was an English amateur cyclist who, with his team-mate 'Ernie' Mills, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63 years...
, ('stoker
Stoker
A stoker is "one who stokes".Stoker may also refer to:* A fireplace poker* Mechanical stoker - a coal-feeding device on a steam locomotive...
') (1910 - 29 January 2003) also from the Addiscombe Cycle Club in Croydon. Initially they had been on opposing tandem teams but together they covered over 30 miles in one hour in 1936 and won a 10 minute pursuit race in less than four minutes.
Together they set the British 12-hour tandem record in 1934, and, after losing it in 1936 to both G.A.Birtchnell and C.G.Taylor, and later C.C.Melhuish and H.G.Chapman, Mills and Paul then retook the record in September 1936 with a 'world's best performance'.
In 1936 Mills and Paul set a British record for a 30 mile ride on a tandem, covering the distance in 1 hour 5 minutes 3 seconds.
He represented Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and won a bronze medal in the Team Pursuit
Cycling at the 1936 Summer Olympics
The cycling competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics consisted of two road cycling events and four track cycling events, all for men only.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
along with his colleagues Harry Hill
Harry Hill (cyclist)
Harry Heaton Hill was a British cyclist who competed in the Olympic games in 1936. He won the bronze medal in the 4000m team pursuit in Berlin with Ernest Mills, Ernest Johnson and Charles King....
, Ernest Johnson and Charles King
Charles King
-Academics:* Charles King , former president of Columbia University* Charles King , Georgetown University professor and author* Charles Spencer King ,Baba Awo and author-Arts:...
.
In 1937 Mills and Paul set the 'World Tandem Hour Record', 31.06 miles (49.991 km), at the Velodromo Vigorelli
Velodromo Vigorelli
Velodromo Vigorelli is a velodrome in Milan, Italy. It is currently used mostlyfor American football events. The stadium holds 9,000 people and was built in 1935 by 'Vigorelli Cycles'....
(Velodromo Comunale Vigorelli) track in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
owned by 'Vigorelli Cycles'. The trip had been funded by readers of Cycling
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
magazine. This record stood until Sept 23rd 2000 at Manchester Velodrome when it was beaten by Simon Keeton and Jon Rickard of Rutland Cycling Club.
Mills represented England at the 1938 British Empire Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia, where he won a bronze medal in the 1,000 metre Time-Trial behind the Australians Bob Porter and Tasman Johnson. He finished fourth in the road race and also competed in 10 miles scratch event.
As of 2011 Mills and Paul's 1938 100-mile tandem record at Addiscombe Cycle Club of still stands.
Addiscombe Cycle Club
Mills is commemorated every year at Addiscombe C.C. by an array of awards presented in his name for all sporting categories, road, track, ladies, juniors and the open time trial.- Open Events Trophy, E.V.Mills Memorial Trophy donated by Club subscription and awarded to the winner of the Club’s Open 25 miles time trial.
- Time Trial Trophy, E.V.Mills Racing Fund Trophy presented by Ernie Mills and awarded to the member who attains the runner-up position in the Club Championship table.
- Track Trophy, Sprint Championship Trophy presented by Ernie Mills for the winner of the Club’s Sprint Championship.
- Junior Path Trophy, presented by Ernie Mills and awarded to the Junior recording the best track performance.
- Ladies Sprint Championship, presented by Ernie Mills and awarded to the winner of the Club’s Ladies Sprint Championship.
The Golden Book
Mills & Paul's achievements were celebrated in 1937 when Cycling WeeklyCycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded them their own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
.
Cigarette cards
In 1939 Mills and Paul's efforts were celebrated nationally when John Player & SonsJohn Player & Sons
John Player & Sons, known simply as Player's, was a tobacco and cigarette manufacturer based in Nottingham, England. It is today a part of the Imperial Tobacco Group.-History:...
issued a Cigarette card
Cigarette card
Cigarette cards are trade cards issued by tobacco manufacturers to stiffen cigarette packaging and advertise cigarette brands.-History:Beginning in 1875, cards depicting actresses, baseball players, Indian chiefs, and boxers were issued by the US-based Allen and Ginter tobacco company. These are...
of them on their tandem. In a series of 50 cards called Cycling 1839-1939, they were featured on card no.45 titled Tandem track position.